It was near the end of a busy day. My wife and young son and I decided to visit a mountaintop that had been recommended to us to see the view. On the way up the trail, we met some folks who told us it was too hazy to see anything. My wife and son returned to the parking lot, but I decided to go on anyway. At the top, one could see nothing but the tall balsam trees. A little red squirrel climbed up on a litter can looking for supper. Suddenly I realized that the squirrel and I were the only ones at the summit. From the viewing tower, all that was visible were the tops of the surrounding trees and the haze in the distance. Birds sang and the little squirrel scampered about on the ground. There was no other sound. Nature was my only earthly companion. The haze rolled in and out, the tall trees waved slightly in the breeze. There was calm, there was quiet, there was peace. For a few brief moments, the world stood still. There were no thoughts of war, poverty, or work, only thoughts of oneness with nature and God. I left that mountaintop and returned to thoughts of war, poverty, and work, but I brought part of the mountaintop back with me. It has stayed with me for over forty years.
Sincerely,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the country's most popular national park sites. It offers postcard-perfect views and plentiful wildlife.
State(s): North Carolina Tennessee,
Established: 1926
“They help preserve our culture and the beauty and power of nature.”
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Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mid-October, 2023—colors between Cherokee and Gatlinburg
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Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Even before my family and I reached the Smokies, I was in awe of the scenery around me. Tennessee’s vibrant forests framed the road on either side, and we drove along a glimmering creek that threaded through the trees. Later, after hiking up to Clingmans Dome, we watched the fog…
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